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Post by gaucho on Nov 3, 2015 19:13:45 GMT
Can folks with smallish hands actually play those? I was just watching some videos and I think it's 1st string at the 5th fret and a walk down on the 4th string. I can play it super slow and it sounds right, but I have to lift off the 1st string at the 5th to reach the 4th string at the 1st fret. Any tricks to doing it? I can't even reach it without a slide...
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Post by pete1951 on Nov 3, 2015 19:34:58 GMT
Bigger hands? or capo up a few frets
I play that `turnround` a lot, but have very large hands(though I do often have a slide on, so it`s my ring finger on the 5th fret.)
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 3, 2015 19:41:42 GMT
Hi Gaucho,
I can do that stretch quite easily because I have done it for decades, but to sound like Robert Johnson you need to play in high keys (Spanish G capo at fret 2, 3 or 4), then the stretch is a lot less and the pitch is up there and edgy like RJ. When the 12th fret is actually the 14th, 15th, or 16th, that is when you can get into his territory.
I don't remember if I do his turnaround in this clip of film, but it has an RJ vibe, which definitely comes from using Spanish in B (capo at 4).
This film has only just been put on Youtube, but it's been on my Facebook since August, where in only a few days it was viewed by over 2k people. Social media is a weird place sometimes....
Shine On
Michael
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Post by pete1951 on Nov 3, 2015 19:48:55 GMT
I think I do it on a video on the forum (some time ago ) called (I think) Play all Robert Johnson songs in open G
PT
Just checked it was posted May 17th and called `Robert Johnson songs not normally played in Spanish (open G)`
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2015 20:31:04 GMT
You're talking about Love in Vain? Yes, it's possible to do. Took me a while to get it, but it helped that I started playing the song on an old parlor guitar with a short scale neck. It's not as difficult as it seems -- it's really a question of lengthening the muscles in your fretting hand, and that will come with time. Don't force it -- like the others say, capo up the neck for a bit while you practice it. Pretty soon your fingers will reach a lot longer than you thought possible.
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Post by gaucho on Nov 3, 2015 20:46:49 GMT
I can sorta get it if I capo at the 2nd fret (Open A). Good idea on the parlors, I'll give that a shot.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2015 20:49:01 GMT
solution 2:
same notes - but 2nd string 8th fret / 5th string walkdown from 10th fret.
TT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2015 8:26:35 GMT
I can sorta get it if I capo at the 2nd fret (Open A). Good idea on the parlors, I'll give that a shot. Not all parlors have a short-scale neck. Look for a student model from the 60s, like the old Framus Sport parlors. |
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Post by gaucho on Nov 4, 2015 16:43:14 GMT
I found another work around too. Sounds slightly different but still has that classic RJ feel. I fret the 1st string at the fifth and walk down on the 4th. When I get to the first fret with the 4th string walk down, I release the the 1st string and give it a few hits open. I'm sure most of you know this already, but it's all new to me. Sounds fairly authentic and I can feel my fingers getting more limber all the time. I think I'll eventually get there....
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Post by blueshome on Nov 4, 2015 17:04:51 GMT
mickeyz, Love in Vain is played by RJ out of G standard. The turnaround is then easy to finger.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2015 19:19:34 GMT
mickeyz, Love in Vain is played by RJ out of G standard. The turnaround is then easy to finger. What's G Standard? You mean Open G/Spanish? |
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Post by Michael Messer on Nov 4, 2015 19:30:48 GMT
G standard is key of G using EADGBE tuning.
The high G note is now on the 3rd fret, rather than the 5th fret as in open Spanish DGDGBD. The run down the 4th string is the same.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2015 22:13:44 GMT
The tab I have for Love in Vain is in Open G -- from the Signature Licks book. I have another one from Arlen Roth, also in Open G. Pretty sure I looked at another one, in open G as well (I really like this song!)
I can see where playing it in standard makes that high G easier, but how do you get the nice chunk of that palm muted open G on the 5th string?
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Post by pete1951 on Nov 5, 2015 13:33:54 GMT
All RJ songs can be played in Open G (But not `They`re Red Hot` which is very difficult/imposable to play in Spanish)
PT
Watch my Video- `Robert Johnson songs not normally played in Spanish (open G)`
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2015 14:54:36 GMT
According to the Signature Licks book, Love in Vain is the only song actually recorded in Open G. I'm not going to open up the can of worms that is RJ's tunings, but I play several others of his in Open G -- these all seem to have been recorded in/sound like some variation of Spanish tuning. My absolute favorite being Come On In My Kitchen.
They're Red Hot is my least favorite of his songs -- just doesn't sound anything like the rest. Weird. It's like if I suddenly started playing polka music.
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